Ice
Chapter Four
Elrohir's hand had stopped in mid air just as he was about to knock on the door. The voices on the other side had made him hesitate. The voices were loud, but with distress, rather than anger.
"It is unacceptable that she is here. He would not even listen to my explanation. He was quite angry. I do not know what his anger will cause him to do." It was Legolas' voice.
The smile on Fin's face turned to a look of anguish. She instinctively knew it was she of whom Legolas spoke.
"I do not answer to Thranduil. For better or worse, Fin is here now. I will not turn her away."
"The relationship between you and my father is already precarious, my lord. He is not even aware I have come here. I felt it was my duty to warn you, or at the very least, express my sorrow at having brought this trouble upon you."
Out in the hall, Fin took several steps backward. Her face paled at the words she had just heard. Se was 'trouble'. It was plain that Thranduil still would not lift her sentence and what's more, she had brought danger to the home of Elrond. And now, after what she had just heard, she was unsure about how Elrond and Legolas felt about her being here. Shame made her face turn red and she fled up the hall with a cry of sorrow.
Elrohir turned at the sound. "Fin, wait."
He was about to follow her when the door to the study opened and Elrond, Legolas, and Tan stepped out.
"I am sorry father, but Fin heard you speaking just now. I am afraid she does not understand."
"I am not sure I understand."
"I tried to explain to my father how Fin risked her own life to save Estel and I from the river. I told him how she took grievous injury to save me from being kidnapped and held for ransom. He is under the impression that I am exaggerating for Fin's sake, and will do nothing to change the sentence she carries. He also eluded that any who give her shelter would also pay a penalty, so I felt I needed to come to explain. I am afraid at the very least his long standing animosity toward you will only increase."
"That cannot be helped, Legolas. I do not feel it would be in anyone's best interest to turn Fin out. She is a most enjoyable creature. She has much to offer. I would not mind if she chose to stay beyond the cold weather. She would be welcome."
"I am glad, for I am in her debt." Legolas had reached out and grasped Elrond by the shoulder. Their eyes met, and understanding passed between them. Thranduil could be very unreasonable, and the relationship he had with his son was not one of love and understanding.
"As am I, for saving Estel."
"I think we should go talk to her. She is upset and I am sure, worried."
Elrond turned up the hallway with his sons and Legolas behind him.
"Where is Estel?" Legolas suddenly noticed his absence.
"He is with the rangers. He should return within the week. They are helping him with his tracking skills, though I dare say he could teach them a few things, as well." Elrond smiled, he was proud of his foster son.
They had climbed the stairs and reached the guest room where Fin had been staying. The door was ajar, but there was no light coming from within. Elrond reached out and knocked lightly, calling her name. When there was not response, he pushed the door open. The room was empty.
Chapter Four
Elrohir's hand had stopped in mid air just as he was about to knock on the door. The voices on the other side had made him hesitate. The voices were loud, but with distress, rather than anger.
"It is unacceptable that she is here. He would not even listen to my explanation. He was quite angry. I do not know what his anger will cause him to do." It was Legolas' voice.
The smile on Fin's face turned to a look of anguish. She instinctively knew it was she of whom Legolas spoke.
"I do not answer to Thranduil. For better or worse, Fin is here now. I will not turn her away."
"The relationship between you and my father is already precarious, my lord. He is not even aware I have come here. I felt it was my duty to warn you, or at the very least, express my sorrow at having brought this trouble upon you."
Out in the hall, Fin took several steps backward. Her face paled at the words she had just heard. Se was 'trouble'. It was plain that Thranduil still would not lift her sentence and what's more, she had brought danger to the home of Elrond. And now, after what she had just heard, she was unsure about how Elrond and Legolas felt about her being here. Shame made her face turn red and she fled up the hall with a cry of sorrow.
Elrohir turned at the sound. "Fin, wait."
He was about to follow her when the door to the study opened and Elrond, Legolas, and Tan stepped out.
"I am sorry father, but Fin heard you speaking just now. I am afraid she does not understand."
"I am not sure I understand."
"I tried to explain to my father how Fin risked her own life to save Estel and I from the river. I told him how she took grievous injury to save me from being kidnapped and held for ransom. He is under the impression that I am exaggerating for Fin's sake, and will do nothing to change the sentence she carries. He also eluded that any who give her shelter would also pay a penalty, so I felt I needed to come to explain. I am afraid at the very least his long standing animosity toward you will only increase."
"That cannot be helped, Legolas. I do not feel it would be in anyone's best interest to turn Fin out. She is a most enjoyable creature. She has much to offer. I would not mind if she chose to stay beyond the cold weather. She would be welcome."
"I am glad, for I am in her debt." Legolas had reached out and grasped Elrond by the shoulder. Their eyes met, and understanding passed between them. Thranduil could be very unreasonable, and the relationship he had with his son was not one of love and understanding.
"As am I, for saving Estel."
"I think we should go talk to her. She is upset and I am sure, worried."
Elrond turned up the hallway with his sons and Legolas behind him.
"Where is Estel?" Legolas suddenly noticed his absence.
"He is with the rangers. He should return within the week. They are helping him with his tracking skills, though I dare say he could teach them a few things, as well." Elrond smiled, he was proud of his foster son.
They had climbed the stairs and reached the guest room where Fin had been staying. The door was ajar, but there was no light coming from within. Elrond reached out and knocked lightly, calling her name. When there was not response, he pushed the door open. The room was empty.
